Fatal Tomato pest reported in Marigat

By Joyce Okuta

A harmful insect pest suspected to be Tuta absoluta is reported to have caused extensive damage to tomato crop in Marigat Sub County.

This was reported by the ministry of Agriculture in early May 2014 in Rabai area in Yatoi sub location in Marigat location. It was first spotted in Perkerra irrigation scheme in October 2013 but the damage was minimal.

In Rabai the ravage was wide-ranging despite farmers using different types of pesticides available in the market.

Some of the damaged tomatoes in farmers’  field.- Marigat location

“Approximately 25acres (10ha) of tomato has been affected and the farmers are likely not to harvest anything. They are likely to lose about Kshs 1,800,000 worth of the crop,” Said Koskey Joel, Sub-county Crops Development Officer, Ministry of Agriculture.

According to Tuta absoluta Network Reports, the devastating pest of Tomato originated from South America. Recently it is considered to be a serious threat to tomato production in Mediterranean region. The newly introduced pest from south America finding the shores of the Mediterranean a perfect new home where it can breed between 10-12 generations a year. Each female can lay 250-300 eggs in her life time.  This pest is crossing boarders and devastating tomato production both protected and open fields. 

It is further revealed that Tuta absoluta is a very challenging pest to control. Effectiveness of chemical control is limited due to insect's nature of damage as well as its rapid capability of development of insecticide resistant strains. The use of biological factors are still largely under development and not ready to combat this pest effectively and in a cost effective way.  Sex pheromone trap is used as an early detection tool. Mass trapping and lure and Kill application of pheromone has been found to be effective to control it.

Meanwhile the ministry of Agriculture (sub-county) has engaged the county government to manage the damaging insect pest.

Marigat community participate in climate change policy and bill forum

By Joyce Okuta

 

Three farmers from Marigat sub-county, actively participated during the recent Baringo County consultative forum on the draft climate change policy and bill held on 3^rd June 2014, at Kibelion Hotel.

It was paramount to engage farmers to have their voice on the draft bill, since climate change has had adverse effects in Agricultural sector. The one day workshop was attended by  54 participants representing all the six sub-counties.

“Can this thing called climate change come to pass?” Asked Agnes Tamar, farmer from Marigat.

Agnes was displaced due to floods after Lake Baringo changed its course. She had to move to Marigat town and leased a 4 acre piece of land  which she treasures so much.

She vividly recalls 20 years ago when their granary was full of food, but now even getting 25 bags of maize from one acre is a nightmare.

Simon Chesang, from kapkuikui beekeepers challenged the county government to award farmers who plant more trees.

“Climate change is contributed by human activities especially cutting down of trees in catchment areas,” Said Simon.

He also narrated how encroachment in Loboi swamp has massively contributed to the loss of the wetland that the community could utilize.

“As we lay the policies we need to consider or set aside a place for our bee hives,” said Simon.

Beekeeping plays an vital role in protecting natural environment and gives communities economic benefits from standing trees. Beekeepers have a vested interest in protecting trees - the source of their honey.

“The forum was an eye opener for me as a young farmer, I now understand that climate change will expose communities to serious risks like prolonged drought or floods, the government should allocate more funds towards adaptation and mitigation measures” said Dancun Lekakimon.

During the forum it emerged that the county government has formed County climate Change advisory committee. The committee comprises key departments and community forecasters; however women are not represented due to cultural aspects.

They appealed to the county government to include women among the community forecasters.

Consultative Forum on the draft climate change policy and bill

By Joyce Okuta

Baringo is one of the most vulnerable counties to the impacts of climate change. The most affected sectors include Agriculture and tourism.

The Baringo County consultative forum on the draft climate change policy and bill was held on 3^rd June 2014, at Kibelion Hotel.

The forum was convened by Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG) to bring on board Civil Society organizations, Community based organizations and the county government to identify the gaps in the draft bill and see how it will be incorporated. The one day workshop was attended by 54 participants representing all the six sub-counties.

“The proposed bill did not pass due to inadequate consultation as cited by former president Mwai Kibaki, said Susy wandera, Conference of the parties chair, KCCWG.

She further said that KCCWG has also involved the youth and the county government through sensitization on the policy and the climate change bill.

After the second reading of the bill, it will be made public through the various media platforms.

According to a presentation made by Caroline Tenges, CEC member, Environment and natural Resources, it was revealed that over 80% of the population in Baringo county dwell in rural areas and poverty levels are estimated at 58.7%.

“The situation is aggravated by effects of climate change leading to erratic weather patterns,” Said the CEC.

The participants advocated lobbying for passing of the bill and allocation of more funds for climate change and development in Baringo County.

“The more the passing the bill is delayed the more communities miss resources,” said Frank Msafiri, Chairman of KCCWG.

A key presentation on a project funded by Act!  that is being implemented in Baringo County was made by Noah Lusaka, Project manager-Arid Lands Information Network. The project focuses on strengthening community resilience to impacts of climate change. Among the project activities include introduction of linear shower mobile irrigation system that conserves over 70% of water resources, community consultations on vulnerability and coping mechanisms, lobbying for inclusion of climate change issues in the County Integrated development plans and information dissemination.

KCCWG, is a forum that brings together Civil Society Organizations in Kenya and donor partners, government departments and agencies working on climate change and for climate justice; for the purpose of creating synergies, harmonizing and strengthening of efforts in the design and implementation of activities that address Climate Change and lobbying and advocating for favorable national policies in the promotion of climate justice for all, especially the most vulnerable.

Opportunity in disaster

By: Joyce Okuta

Nabara Self Help Group is based in Salabani location approximately 13 Kms from Marigat town. The area is accessible through a dusty and perilous road especially during rainy season. It consists of 52 youth among these 32 are male while 20 are Female.

Some of the houses that were submerged by bursting of Lake Baringo

It was formed in 2012 after the communities living around Lake Baringo were displaced due to floods; this led to loss of lives and properties. The group came together with a common interest to see how they would use the floods for development.

How they began 
Since the group members are youth, they decided to pull labor by creatively digging trenches to harvest the lake water and a reservoir for irrigating their crops. They pump water using generators in their 10 acre piece of land owned by the group, they practice furrow irrigation.

Water reservoir where the group pumps water for irrigation

The group planted water melon on 6 acres and had bumper harvest, they got over KSh 800,000. This gave them confidence to venture into other crops like vegetables, tomatoes, beans and grass.

Nabara S.H.G used the money to extend their farm, bought sahiwal bull for upgrading programme within the group. Members who were displaced were able to buy land and built houses, paid school fees for their children, bought 4 motorbikes and saved the rest of the money in their bank account.

   

Redirected water from Lake Baringo to the main reservoir

The groups' innovation has recently attracted well wishers and NGOs who support them like Network for Ecofarming in Africa (NECOFA), they offer seeds, training and exposure tour. 

The ministry of Agriculture has also been very instrumental in training the group and linking them with partners for support.

Activities 
Apart from farming Nabara S.H.G have merry-go-round and they visit their group members in case of problem. They empower their members by improving their living standards through assisting the less fortunate in the society.

bumper harvest

Challenges 
Lack of Market for produce is a major constraint among the group since they rely on middlemen who exploit them. 

The trenches they dug are not wide enough to contain large volume of water thus sometimes the water is not sufficient to irrigate the farm.

The pipes they use are small hence one takes more than 8 hours to irrigate 1 acre piece of land.

Experience 
The group realized that the soil in their farm was fertile and reduced the use of fertilizer, a factor they attribute to abundant harvest. 

They also realized that water from the lake is salty hence the reduction in using chemicals.

Positive impacts of floods to Nabara Group in promoting food security.

 The group feels that they have achieved a lot as youth since they have converted disaster into development. 

Climate change project unveiled in Baringo County

By Joyce Okuta

Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) has begun a one year project implementation on climate change on behalf of Act Change Transform (Act!).

The objective of the project is to enhance community resilience to the impacts of climate change for improved livelihood in Baringo, Kajiado and Laikipia counties.

“The proposed Project will be implemented by ALIN in partnership with the Sunculture Company  from April 2014- April 2015,” said Noah Lusaka ALINs’ Project Manager.

 ALIN and its Partner visited Baringo County to introduce the project and to survey on possible sites for installing linear shower mobile Irrigation system on 28Th April 2014.

A meeting was held at GTI in Kabarnet to highlight and deliberate on climate change issues in the county and how ALIN would partner with various stakeholders to effectively implement the project.

The project is aimed at strengthening policy formulation infrastructure at national and county level. It will tackle a number of issues to address inadequate community capacity and lack of access to appropriate information on climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Speaking during the stakeholders meeting, Noah Lusaka said that, ALIN will work closely with county leaders, partners and will hold community consultative meetings to ensure success of the project. 

The county minister for Environment Hon. Caroline Tenges said that community resilience is prioritized in the CIDP and climate change is integrated.

“Communities in Baringo County have been affected by massive soil erosion leading to displacement. My ministry is planning to integrate adaptation and mitigation measures by promoting tree planting in every 10 homesteads.”Said Hon Tenges.

The project will also promote SMART agriculture through promotion of Solar power drip technology, ALIN has partnered with Sunculture Company to achieve this to support Agri-business.

The technology is innovative and will help communities adapt and cope with the effects of climate change increasing their resilience and governance of their scarce natural resources.

The project will play a key role in lobbying for inclusion of climate change in County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and allocation of finances to support climate change.

The team paid courtesy to the ministry of water and irrigation based in Baringo County Head quarters.

Hon. Job Tomno, CEC member for water and irrigation in Baringo County said that the population growth is high and accessibility to water is a challenge to majority of communities in Baringo County. 

“The county has 150,000 acres potential for irrigation yet only 5,000 acres has been utilized.” Added Hon Tomno.

He promised that his ministry will support especially in promoting rain water harvesting for food security and will also give technical support in the ACT project.